Read Online Falling for Owen by Jennifer Ryan - Free Book Online

her head and studied him. “You won’t tell her you got it for her. You’ll tell her I sent it.”
    “See, you’re getting to know me already. Stay off your feet as much as possible. You don’t want to tear any of those stitches.”
    They stood together and the awkward moment stretched.
    “I really want to kiss you goodbye,” he whispered.
    “But you won’t because everyone is watching, even if they’re pretending not to.”
    “Exactly. I’ll see you tonight. What time do you get off?”
    She cocked an eyebrow, but didn’t comment on the double meaning of that sentence. Still, her mind aligned with his, and she was thinking about sex. He wanted to make another suggestive remark about what time he’d get her off, but held back, waiting for that playful time they’d banter like that and fall into each other’s arms.
    “Since Gayle opened, I close at seven. What about you?”
    “I’ll get off whenever you do.” He let that hang between them, because he’d love to see her writhing in passion. The thought made him hard and aching just thinking about it. “I’ll pick you up for dinner. I’ll make the reservation for seven thirty just in case you’re running late. If we get there early, we’ll grab a drink at the bar.”
    “See you tonight,” she said with an easy smile, though her hands remained knotted together on the counter.
    “Please don’t go anywhere alone today. Call me if anything happens. Promise.”
    “I promise. I have no intention of making myself an easy target.”
    “You weren’t an easy target last night. You frightened off Dale and pulled a knife on my brother.”
    “Don’t remind me. He must think I’m nuts.”
    “Let’s hope Dale thinks you are. My brother thought you were tough and brave. That’s a lot said coming from a guy like him.”
    He gave in and put his hand over hers on the counter, giving them a quick squeeze before he turned and left, every eye in the place on his back. He didn’t care what anyone said or thought.
    He drove to his office, worried about her safety and missing her already.

 
    Chapter Ten
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    O WEN PARKED HIS truck outside his office, got out, grabbed his suit jacket draped over the seat, and put it on. He grabbed the drinks and bag of goodies from Claire and walked up the steps to his office door.
    Janine smiled when he entered, but he didn’t get a word of hello out before someone slammed into his chest. Trying to avoid spilling the hot coffee and dumping his briefcase on the floor, he held his arms out wide, only allowing the dark-haired woman to burrow in close to his chest. Pressed down the length of him, he stood stock-still, trying to figure out what the hell was going on.
    “You’re okay,” the woman sobbed.
    “Mrs. Monoghan, turn him loose before you break him.” Janine came around her desk and took the coffee tray, bakery bag, and his briefcase, leaving him with his arms in the air, wondering what to do with them now that he wasn’t holding anything and his client had attached herself to him like an octopus.
    Her arms had slipped inside his jacket and her hands gripped his shirt at his back. Her face pressed to his chest and he swore she snuggled up against him, despite the tears choking her words.
    “I thought he did something to you. You didn’t call me back last night, or this morning, and I thought the worst.”
    Owen’s gaze met Janine’s and she shook her head in dismay. “I told you he had other matters to attend to and nothing happened to him.”
    Finally coming to his senses, he gently took Shannon by the shoulders and tried to set her away from him, but she held tight, tilting her head up to meet his gaze.
    “You’re so hard.”
    Janine nearly choked on the laugh, but coughed to cover. He didn’t find this one bit funny. Yeah, five minutes ago he’d been hard as stone, standing talking to Claire at her place, but not now. For the first time, he wanted to shove a woman away. Shannon had crossed the line, coming